I have a racing question...

Question
QUESTION: Hi I recently purchased an aqha racehorse and am learning the basics of training my horse. I have him with a trainer that has been teaching him to run at 350 yards. I have friends that also race horses at this level and they give me information but i feel i need more information as i am a beginner. I want my horse to run fast as every other racer would. Well here is my question as an owner i do i know if my trainer is doing a good job and as an owner what do i need to know to help me become a better owner. And what can i do as an owner to see my horse become a better racer...I would really appreciate any advise you can give me.

ANSWER: Hi Pete,
         It would be helpful if I knew what an aqha horse was. 350yds seems a very short distance to be training over so I summise that your horse is a quarter horse?

If so this is not my area of expertise however when training any animal the sooner you start the better.
The internet is full of articles about horses and training but I have always found that just having an enquiring mind and asking lots of questions rapidly increases your knowledge.

When you watch your horse training are you seeing what the trainer is seeing? Probably not because he knows what to look for and you don't, yet! An interesting question to ask a trainer is "what are you looking at and what can you see"?

Ask him to explain what is going on and how to interpret it.

Other than that you will need time to increase your knowledge. Let the trainer train you as well as your horse!

Hope this helps,
Regards,
Don

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey Don thanks for your Help. I have another question How do i add speed to my horse? And i have a friend of mine that says that he perfers a horse with just conditioning then with muscles. He says that when a horse has to much muscle and he runs he has more of a possibility of hurting his tendons. But my trainer says that when a horse is running a 94 spi or higher he has a possibility of hurting his tendons he says he likes muscle and conditioning. So is to much weight bad for a horse.. And if so what can i do?? Oh! and before i forget yes my horse is a quarter horse. Any help you can give me i would appreciate it alot. Well thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Pete,
         I have been thinking about the 'aqha'in you first question and now surmise that it satnds for American Quarter Horse Association. Is that right?
Weight is a very important factor when conditioning a racing horse, be it a standard bred, thoroughbred or quarter horse.Weight comes in three main forms, skeletal weight (bone) condition, (muscle) and fat.
Obviously the more weight the horse has to carry, the more energy is expended getting from the start line to the finish. In thoroughbred racing just a few ounces of lead added to the saddle to bring the weight up to the designated weight can make a lot of difference to the perfomance.

A horse just coming into training should be healthy, well fed and carrying some condition. The trainer will assess the condition and set a training plan that will reduce the condition (fat), build and strenghthen the muscle, and produce a fit horse, with a balance of aerobic and anaerobic training, ready to perform well.
It may need a race or two to complete the conditioning and to learn about actual racing but from then on , depending on the frequency of races that condition can be maintained for several months.
Diet plays a major role in the preparation of a race horse. They need a balance of vitamins and trace elements coupled with energy and vitality supplements. Always of course being careful to only use legal supplements.

Horses become dehydrated very easily so it is also important to make sure a close watch is kept on that factor. An unscientific but useful test is to pinch the skin on the shoulder or wither  and pull it up. If it settles back in place quickly the horse is well hydrated. If the pinch mound stays prominent for more than a few seconds it may be dehydrated. Try it on yourself as well!

If you get all these things balanced and the horse is fit and uninjured then the rest is down to the will to run and the relationship with the rider.

Quarter horses are a bit smarter than the average horse so its a good idea to have the rider and the horse, in fact anyone who is likely to work with the horse, to spend casual time with the horse. They like being fussed over and can take endless brushing, scratching, rubbing, talking and so on. A happy horse handles easier and gets less stressed, therefore performs better.

As you can see it is not hard to go on and on about the many little things to know and do about horses.
The same applies to wives and children!!

Good luck,
Don